GAB shocks/sturts...good/bad?
 

My Tokico Illuminas are blown and i'm hoping to remove them and send them to tokico's CA facility and get a new set under warranty. In the mean time I bought a used set of gab coilovers (im not really concerned with long term use).
Is there any place i can get some info on them? I dont really know what "trim" they are untill i get them so i cant offer much to go on but still how many kits can they make? All im concerned with is my handling for the time being....and as much iinfo as possible!
thanx
Manny

I have GAB super-R shocks (the FD has four shocks and zero struts). Here's my write-up with (bad) pics about converting them to adjustable-height coilovers:
http://maxcooper.com/rx7/how-to/susp...ers/index.html

They are "stiff" (heavy damping) shocks. Each shock has an 8-position adjuster with 8 being the most damping. I have mine on 2F/1R right now, and the highest I have ever had them set is 3F/2R. Sport Compact Car did an article in their "Project RX-7" series a few years back where they used a shock dyno to test the stock R1 shocks, Koni yellow, and GAB super-R shocks. The results used to be posted on rx7turboturbo.com, but that site is down now. Perhaps the content is available on another site somewhere.

GAB also makes at least one other set of shocks for the FD, but I don't know much about them.

-Max

The GABs are a hell of a lot better than your Tokico Illuminas. IMO

Nice writing!

Do you still have them? like them?
I guess i'll find out soon enough!

they also cost more...I was pretty satisfied with the Illuminas. Lets see how the gabs are!

i had them they are great suspension choice

a bang for the buck if u ask me

Steve Cirian's FD3S site has it, but you'll need to scroll a bit.

I've got the Evolution II coilovers on my car, and they are bad-ass. They do ride really low though. My front bumper might sit 1 1/2" off the ground. Seriously, you can barely get your shoe under there. My springs are 8kg/mm in the front and 6kg/mm in the rear, but the ride isn't nearly has harch as I would have expected. And they have super short travel. They make the car so much easier to drift. ;)

I've seen people say these are the same an KYB AGX, which seems likely, but I'd imagine the valving is a little different.

Can't you set the height to whatever you want?

-Max

I hope i get them soon cause the handling is getting scary....

I hope i get them soon cause the handling is getting scary....

I have a a question about the 8 adjustments on the GAB shocks , when you stiffen them does it only stiffen dampening or rebound as well ? anyone have any ideas?

I have a a question about the 8 adjustments on the GAB shocks , when you stiffen them does it only stiffen dampening or rebound as well ? anyone have any ideas?

Follow the link provided above for the shock dyno charts of stock, stock R1 , Koni and GAB Super R shock dynos.

Suspension Upgrades

They adjust rebound, but it does affect the compression as well especially in the higher velocities.

To my eye-

The GAB Super R are great for higher than stock rate springs as they have strong rebound damping and are progressive. This will allow the higher spring rate to control body motion without jacking down.

The Koni with its digressive damping is better for applications where you must use a stock spring as the higher low speed damping will control body motion when turned up, but this will jack down the suspension with continuous transitions or rough surface.

I had GAB Super R on my R1 with stock springs. They are a bumpy ride.

Thanks I have the Gabs but with 650/500 springs , I had it setup at 4/2 f/r , on summer tires , but i was getting some snap oversteer so I wondered if stiffening the fornt would help the rear , instead of just softening the rear .